As Guyana’s economy continues to grow – faster than any other in the world – five persons have been sworn in as members of the country’s Integrity Commission, an independent agency responsible for screening the assets of public office holders and investigating corruption.
The appointment of the commission, which has not been operating for some time, will place a magnifying glass on officials involved in the regulation and oversight of the oil and gas sector, which is responsible for unprecedented volumes of revenues into Guyana.
The President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali witnessed the swearing in by acting Chief Magistrate, Judy Latchman, at the Office of the President in Georgetown on Tuesday.
Chandra Gajraj, a director for the local Demerara Bank limited and general secretary of the religious organization, Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, were appointed to chair the commission.
Gajraj has years of experience serving as Director and Company Secretary of Demerara Bank Limited and is the General Secretary of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha. The other commissioners are Kim-Kyte Thomas, Mohamed Hanif, Hardesh Tewari and Wayne Bowman.
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Holders of public office are expected to declare their assets to the commission, in accordance with periodic requests. Previous appointees to the commission have published in newspapers, lists of persons who failed to declare their assets by the specified deadline, as the body is empowered to do by the Integrity Commission Act.
Persons who ultimately fail to declare their assets could be fined and face jail time.
